Circular 479 – In memoriam Miguel Adolfo Campos Mariño (1938 – 2024)

Faced with the sensitive departure to the Father’s House of Brother Miguel Adolfo Campos Mariño, on January 4, 2024, Brother Armin Luistro, Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and the General Council, entrusted the Office of Lasallian Patrimony and Research with the drafting of a Circular In memoriam of the late General Councillor of the Institute between 2000 and 2007, who was one of the most distinguished Lasallian scholars.

This Circular 479 is the result of a deep and delicate collaborative work with the participation of Prof. Lisa Jarvine, Br Robert Comte, Br William Mann, Br Diego Muñoz, Br Álvaro Rodríguez, and Br Robert Schieler, who knew closely and shared different moments of Br Miguel’s life.

From his childhood and vocational journey in his native Cuba, to his final years in the service of the Institute and his final stage at De La Salle Hall Residence in Lincroft, New Jersey (USA), this Circular presents a detailed portrait of Brother Miguel and his ministry over its 62 pages. It includes his time as a Theology student, his early years as a Brother, the period when he studied in Rome and became one of the scholars who helped to advance Lasallian studies, as well as his time as an educator and pastoral minister in the United States, his return to Cuba – where he joined the Lasallian mission between 1998 and 2000 – and his service to the Institute as General Councillor during Brother Álvaro Rodríguez’s first term as Superior General.

Brother Álvaro Rodríguez recalls with these words the mark Brother Miguel left on him:

When at the 43rd General Chapter of the year 2000 I said to the Brother capitulants, in my first words as Superior, that ‘being Brothers is our secret, our strength, our greatest richness’, I did not count on experiencing it in a profound and concrete way with the close and fraternal presence of Brother Miguel Campos, as part of the team that was to accompany me for seven years. Previously, I had already had the opportunity to know and admire him in some meetings for formators or Visitors, or through his books and some of his dissertations… I always found in Miguel the friend who was concerned about me, and not only about my ministry. During these years and later, when he left Rome, he shared with me his ideas, concerns, joys and hopes in relation to the Institute, which helped me a lot in my interventions and writings for the Brothers and the other members of our Lasallian Family.

We thank God for the life, witness and legacy of Brother Miguel Campos. May this Circular be an opportunity to honour his memory and thank the God of life for his vast contribution to the Institute.